In an interview with The Mirror, Lady Gaga said she took some time for herself after recording Artpop because she needed to find some balance. The attention that comes with fame like Lady Gaga’s can definitely be overwhelming, and it’s part of the reason why Gaga stepped out of the spotlight for a little while.

"When my career took off, I don’t remember anything at all. It’s like I’m traumatised. I needed time to recalibrate my soul,” Gaga said. “I definitely look after my well-being.”

Gaga released Artpop in 2013, and then took a different path by recording a jazz album with Tony Bennett and pursuing acting. Now, Gaga is back with a pop single, returning to her roots. In between all that, though, Gaga said she’s been taking her depression medication. While she said mental health medication isn’t for everyone, it’s part of her self-care and she’s not ashamed.

“I openly admit to having battled depression and anxiety and I think a lot of people do,” Gaga said in the interview. “I think it’s better when we all say: ‘Cheers!' and 'fess up to it.'”

Mental health is serious, and different conditions can cause both emotional and physical pain. While therapy or at-home techniques work for some people, other people can benefit from medication to manage their symptoms. There’s no shame in that, and Lady Gaga is right about “fessing up.” There’s no need to hide our issues — that only contributes to the stigma that makes people uncomfortable with them. With the number of girls being affected by depression now reaching an all time high, and the overall amount of teens reporting major depression increasing, we need to encourage people to get help, not stay silent.

We're glad Lady Gaga did the right thing and took some time for herself, and we're excited to hear what music came out of it.